IM: WHUSDJ
CURRENT SHOW
The Sugar Shack
Tune into "Dark Side of the Highway" this Sunday (Mar. 20) from 3-7 AM EST for a special memorial tribute to country music legend Ferlin Husky...
Ferlin Eugene Husky (December 3, 1925 – March 17, 2011) was an American singer who became well-known as a country-pop chart-topper under various names, including Terry Preston and Simon Crum. In the 1950s and 60s, Husky had several hits, including "Gone" and "Wings of a Dove", each reaching number one on the country charts. In 2010, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Ferlin Husky was born in Flat River, Missouri. Ferlin attended school as a youngster in Irondale, Missouri about ten (10) miles west of Flat River, (Park Hills), Missouri. As a United States Merchant Marine, he entertained the troops on his ship in World War II. His official website states that his ship participated in the D-Day invasion of Cherbourg. After the war, Husky became a DJ in Missouri and Bakersfield, California, where he began using the moniker Terry Preston to hide his rural roots. As a honky tonk singer, Husky signed with Capitol Records in 1953 under the guidance of Cliffie Stone, also the manager for Tennessee Ernie Ford. With Capitol Records, he reverted to his given name. A few singles failed before "A Dear John Letter" with Jean Shepard became a No. 1 hit. The followup was called "Forgive Me John".
In 1955, Husky had a solo hit with "I Feel Better All Over (More Than Anywheres Else)"/"Little Tom", and developed "Simon Crum" as a comic alter ego. As Crum, Husky signed a separate contract with Capitol Records and began releasing records, the biggest of which was 1958's "Country Music Is Here To Stay" (No. 2 for three weeks).
In the late 1950s, Husky had a long string of hits, including the No. 1 "Gone"; in 1957 (he first recorded "Gone" as Terry Preston in 1952, but the earlier version lacked the strings and backup singers of the newly-emerging Nashville sound). "Gone" was a crossover success, also reaching No. 4 on the pop music chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[1] He then began an acting career, appearing on the Kraft Television Theatre program, and in the film Mr. Rock & Roll (his website states he has had bit parts in 18 films). Bob Ferguson's "Wings of a Dove" became his biggest hit in 1960, topping the country charts for ten weeks and attaining No. 12 on the pop chart. Husky was also known for his ability to mimic other popular country singers.
Although he did not have any more chart-toppers, he had more than two dozen hits between 1961 and 1972, with the biggest being "Once" (1967) and "Just For You" (1968). In late 1972, after over 20 years with Capitol, Husky signed with ABC Records, where he scored several Top 40 hits into 1975 with the biggest being the Top 20 "Rosie Cries A Lot" (1973). Husky briefly retired in 1977 following heart surgery but resumed touring. He remained a popular concert draw, performing at the Grand Ole Opry and elsewhere.
Husky has suffered from heart problems for many years and has been hospitalized several times since the late 1970s, most recently for heart surgery in 2005 and blood clots in his legs in 2007. He was admitted to St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Missouri on April 19, 2009, with congestive heart failure and pneumonia. On July 15, 2009 his spokesman said he was recuperating at home after being released from a Nashville hospital.
On February 23, 2010, the Country Music Association announced his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
On January 16, 2011, Husky was honored at West St. Francois County High School in Leadwood, MO where local singers and the high school choir sang some of his hits. Husky also donated several items of memorabilia, including his country music hall of fame award, to the city of Leadwood. They will be permanently stored at the High School.
On March 17, 2011, Management released a statement saying that Husky died from cardiac problems.